I:12 The miserable fate of Devadatta

Devadatta, the Buddha's cousin, was at one time residing with the
Enlightened One in Kosambi. While staying there he realised that the Buddha was receiving
much respect and honour as well as offerings. He envied the Blessed One and aspired
to head the Order of the bhikkhus. One day, while the Buddha was preaching at the
Veluvana monastery in Rajagaha, he approached the Enlightened One with a selfish
idea. He suggested that the Order be entrusted to his care, on the grounds that the
Buddha was getting old. The Buddha did not accept his suggestion and admonished him,
saying that he was not worthy of holding such responsibility. So, the Buddha asked
the Sangha to carry out an
act of proclamation of penalty* on Devadatta for his arrogance
in thinking that he was worthy to take the Buddha's place.

Devadatta felt aggrieved and vowed to take revenge. He attempted
to kill the Buddha on three occasions: first, by employing some archers; secondly,
by climbing up the Gijjhakuta Hill and rolling down a big piece of rock on to the
Buddha; and thirdly, by causing the elephant Nalagiri to attack the Buddha. The hired
assassins instead of attacking the Buddha became his disciples. The big piece of
rock only hurt the Buddha's toe. When the elephant rushed at the Buddha, it was made
docile by the Buddha's compassion. Thus, when Devadatta failed to kill the Buddha,
he tried another tactic. He tried to break up the Order of the bhikkhus by taking
away some newly admitted bhikkhus with him to Gayasisa. However, most of them were
convinced by Venerable Sariputta and Venerable Moggallana to return voluntarily to
lead the Holy Life under the guidance of the Buddha.

Later, Devadatta fell ill. He had been ill for nine months. One
day he asked his pupils to take him to the Buddha at the Jetavana monastery to ask
forgiveness for the evil deeds he had committed.

When Devadatta and his party reached the pond in the Jetavana monastery
compound, Devadatta said he was thirsty. So, the carriers put down the couch by the
bank of the pond and went to take some water. Devadatta also rose from his couch
and placed both his feet on the ground. Immediately, his feet sank into the earth
and he faced a miserable death. Devadatta did not have the opportunity to see the
Buddha because of the evil deeds done against the Enlightened One. After his death,
he was reborn in a very miserable and suffering state where he has to pay for all
the evil deeds that he had committed.**